Rebecca Wragg Sykes on Kindred

Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI Radio in New York

Rebecca Wragg Sykes uses her experience at the cutting-edge of Palaeolithic research to share our new understanding of Neanderthals, shoving aside clichés of rag-clad brutes in an icy wasteland. She reveals them to be curious, clever connoisseurs of their world, technologically inventive and ecologically adaptable. Above all, they were successful survivors for more than 300,000 years, during times of massive climatic upheaval. Since their discovery 150 years ago, Neanderthals have gone from the losers of the human family tree to A-list hominins. The perception of the Neanderthal has changed dramatically, but despite growing scientific curiosity, popular culture fascination, and a wealth of coverage in the media and Sykes asks are we getting the whole story? Join us when Rebecca Wragg Sykes shares her complex and fascinating research on the reality of 21st century Neanderthals which remains virtually unknown and inaccessible outside the scientific literature, on this installment of Leoanrd Lopate at Large.